322 MODERN POLITICS 



opposed to the maintenance of a respectable 

 regularity the group system is the more effective 

 of the two. The leaders of political groups move 

 along lines that, prescribed by self-interest, are 

 clear and definite. A group will generally be too 

 small to dominate of itself the political situation ; 

 but it can make terms with other groups, bar- 

 gaining for mutual assistance ; and the simplicity 

 of its purpose is of great advantage when opposed 

 to the kaleidoscopic ambitions of a political 

 party. So the group of Irish Nationalists has 

 brought Home Rule almost within their grasp, 

 the Welsh group has shaken the Established 

 Church in Wales to its foundations, and the 

 Labour group has forced legislation giving trades 

 unions such privileges as are enjoyed by no other 

 associations. 



Political forecasts are very uncertain, and there 

 are peculiarities in the English character that 

 may divert our political evolution from the lines 

 that have been pursued by other nations. But 

 it seems probable that the two historical parties 

 will gradually be disintegrated out of existence by 

 a growing cleavage of the electorate into class 

 groups. As the working classes advance in in- 

 telligence and lose traditional habits of mind,they 

 will appreciate their wants with greater clearness, 

 and become less disposed to entrust their interests 

 to politicians who regard them merely as pieces 

 of more or less value to be played in the game of 

 party politics. Legislation will be urged frankly 

 by considerations of personal advantage that is 

 to say, in the interests of the class, instead of those 

 of the political party and it is probable that this 

 will infuse a bitterer note into political antagonism. 

 We must hope for a palliative in a growing respect 

 for public opinion, in increasing obedience to 

 that social impulse which leads us to defer to the 



